Montclair Residents Host 39th Annual 'Bunk's Fun Run'

December, 2022 – Montclair residents Bruce and Susan Reitz hosted over 30 people at the 39th Annual Bunk’s Fun Run on Sunday, December 4. Their college friends, neighbors, Board Members, staff, and other Student/Partner Alliance(S/PA) supporters raised over $19,000 for scholarships for students. Since the Fun Run was started in 1983, it has donated over $200,000 to S/PA.

It was a beautiful, warm day for the run and both runners and walkers enjoyed the exercise and the meal that followed. Congratulations to our youngest winner ever, 8 year old Ryder Jacobs of Randolph, NJ (21:54) who narrowly beat out last year’s winner, Alex MacKenzie of Tenafly, NJ in a photo finish. Alex’s wife, Jeanette MacKenzie of Tenafly, NJ (25:24) repeated as the women’s winner. A new tradition of a kids race around the neighborhood church was also started this year which was won by Isla MacKenzie and also included her brother Kai as well as Emie and Bernie Morgan. After the event, Susan and her team of amazing cooks and bakers presented a delicious feast enjoyed by all. The organizers have announced that the 40th Annual Bunk’s Fun Run is scheduled to take place next year on December 3, 2023.

The mission of Student/Partner Alliance (S/PA) is to support motivated high school students at private high schools in New Jersey’s urban areas of Essex, Hudson and Union counties with tuition assistance and mentoring to increase their chances for college admission and scholarships, and ultimately to lead successful and productive lives. To learn more about the role mentoring plays in our community and to find volunteer opportunities with us visit www.studentpartneralliance.org. If you would like to learn more about our program, please contact Kristin Shannon at kshannon@studentpartneralliance.org.